Maestro "gutted" me too. Just as TAR did last year. That exact same feeling as if punched in the stomach and breathless. It may have something to do with being exposed to classical and more different types of music, from an early age. It's telling that neither movie garnered any winnings in this country. Both absolutely brilliant and extremely well acted. Carey Mulligan should have at least gotten Best Actor.
Love Paul Giamatti but the Holdovers was tedious and dreary and way too long. Yawn. The eighteen-year-old boy was played by an actor who looked and behaved like a troubled thirty-year-old. All the boys disappear on a skiing trip? How convenient. Giamatti happens to bump into an old colleague etc etc. Two stars.
Anatomy of a Fall was engrossing. Terrific insights into the French legal system and entirely plausible as to the result. I followed a murder trial here in Australia for a year and watched how it went from guilty to not guilty to guilty to - eventually - the alleged murderer being released from jail after an appeal a year after his sentencing. To this very day there are people convinced of the person's guilt and others just as convinced justice was done when the person was released. I found Anatomy of a Fall very satisfying. Four stars.
Oppenheimer was too confusing for us plebs. Not sure why directors have to deliberately make things difficult for 'ordinary folk'. I came across a good analysis and explanation of events in the NYRB by a bloke whose father was involved, unfortunately after I'd seen the film. The essay - along with the subtitles - helped tremendously when I watched it again on the small screen. It was okay, however, films like Oppenheimer are elitist. There's nothing clever about making 'blockbusters' for the select few who are at home with cryptic crosswords and rocket science. Three stars.
Zone of Interest was also engrossing, however, for me, failed to hit home the way the late, great Martin Amis's book did. The interlude showing the modern day Auschwitz camp museum was clunky and unnecessary. I'm aware that the Polish girl leaving the food is acclaimed by all as crucial to the film, however, I found that to be a clunky add-on too. It was a separate remarkable story that could be a film in its own right but, for me, inserting it into this film jarred. Nevertheless, four stars.
All sporting, literary, journalists, science, medical research, military, music industry, fashion industry, art etc bodies throw their own award nights so there's no reason for the film industry not to do the same, which they do with great noise and gusto. I think the reason the film industry gets up people's nostrils is the pervasive sense of privilege and the over-the-top self-importance and moralising that goes on. One would have to say the film industry as we once knew it is dying in the arse and has nothing like the kudos of past eras. Nevertheless, Oscar will undoubtedly roll on and continue to impress, delight, annoy and irritate albeit fewer and fewer people as the years tick by.
can someone please, please tell Mark Ruffalo to stop using that accent? he used it in All The Light We Cannot See, which was otherwise a fantastic adaptation of a brilliant book. Who hears that accent and thinks "yeah, that's a net gain for this movie"????
Megyn Kelly begins the show by revealing some leftist hypocrisy, featuring Jimmy Kimmel and Hollywood's blackface past, Robert De Niro's hypocrisy and Trump hysteria, George Stephanopoulos' outrageous questioning of Rep. Nancy Mace and his past shaming of sexual assault victims, and more.
Hollywood's Obvious Hypocrisy on Who Gets Canceled and Who Gets Celebrated, with Andrew Klavan
Megyn Kelly is joined by The Daily Wire's Andrew Klavan, author of "The House of Love and Death," to discuss Hollywood’s obvious hypocrisy on who gets canceled and who gets celebrated, the Oscars somehow mostly honoring white people, celebrity chef Padma Lakshmi critiquing Megyn but going on Jimmy Kimmel's show, all the celebs who don't seem to mind Kimmel's past blackface, and more.
I am skipping Zone of Interest after hearing Jonathan Glazer's acceptance speech. He made a movie about the Holocaust - which could not have happened had there been a modern Jewish state - and his speech offered no alternative but to leave Hamas standing to finish its clearly articulated intention of returning the Jews to their pre-Holocaust situation. Maybe he identified a little to strongly with the Nazi, Rudolf Hoss (with umlatt over "o"), the subject of his film - a kind of directorial Stockholm Syndrome.
I am glad the Free Press is also adding cultural coverage. I appreciate these offerings, and will check some of the movies that I have not watched yet.
Thanks for the reviews. I have not seen them all but Oppenheimer was amazing and Barbie….not so much. I think the awards handed out were accurate.
Remember, Hollywood is here to entertain us, they are entertainers not moral leaders. Hollywood is like basketball or instagram scrolling, a way to pass some time. Their moral example is no more compelling than the LSU/SC women’s basketball brawl last night.
Just be amazed by the large format picture that takes you away from life for two plus hours.
I went to see Dune II two nights. By the end, I was deaf.
The previews were the highpoint of the night. Hollywood really is kaput. Reruns, retreads, and mash-ups. One of the upcomers is Godizila marries King Kong or something like that. Hollywood is a no-ideas zone.
I for one always enjoy watching the Oscars.Some years are better than others and I believe this year was one of the better years. They honored women, but didn’t dishonor or disrespect men. The awards seemed to go to the projects and people who deserved them and not the people that the Academy felt were “due” the awards to make up for past inequities. It was entertaining but not too glitzy. It got political only a couple of times when Zelensky was shown, when one of the speeches discussed Ukraine, when one of the winners revoked their Jewishness (which I found ridiculous) and when Jimmy Kimmel read a real Trump post criticizing him and the show. I loved Jimmys line “…isn’t it past your jail time?” No one slapped anyone else across the face and I loved how former winners of each acting category were selected to speak about this years nominees instead of showing clips. I found it a decent and non offensive production.
Maestro "gutted" me too. Just as TAR did last year. That exact same feeling as if punched in the stomach and breathless. It may have something to do with being exposed to classical and more different types of music, from an early age. It's telling that neither movie garnered any winnings in this country. Both absolutely brilliant and extremely well acted. Carey Mulligan should have at least gotten Best Actor.
The amount of comments basically declaring that movies are “beneath them” is alarming. Get over yourselves people!
Love Paul Giamatti but the Holdovers was tedious and dreary and way too long. Yawn. The eighteen-year-old boy was played by an actor who looked and behaved like a troubled thirty-year-old. All the boys disappear on a skiing trip? How convenient. Giamatti happens to bump into an old colleague etc etc. Two stars.
Anatomy of a Fall was engrossing. Terrific insights into the French legal system and entirely plausible as to the result. I followed a murder trial here in Australia for a year and watched how it went from guilty to not guilty to guilty to - eventually - the alleged murderer being released from jail after an appeal a year after his sentencing. To this very day there are people convinced of the person's guilt and others just as convinced justice was done when the person was released. I found Anatomy of a Fall very satisfying. Four stars.
Oppenheimer was too confusing for us plebs. Not sure why directors have to deliberately make things difficult for 'ordinary folk'. I came across a good analysis and explanation of events in the NYRB by a bloke whose father was involved, unfortunately after I'd seen the film. The essay - along with the subtitles - helped tremendously when I watched it again on the small screen. It was okay, however, films like Oppenheimer are elitist. There's nothing clever about making 'blockbusters' for the select few who are at home with cryptic crosswords and rocket science. Three stars.
Zone of Interest was also engrossing, however, for me, failed to hit home the way the late, great Martin Amis's book did. The interlude showing the modern day Auschwitz camp museum was clunky and unnecessary. I'm aware that the Polish girl leaving the food is acclaimed by all as crucial to the film, however, I found that to be a clunky add-on too. It was a separate remarkable story that could be a film in its own right but, for me, inserting it into this film jarred. Nevertheless, four stars.
All sporting, literary, journalists, science, medical research, military, music industry, fashion industry, art etc bodies throw their own award nights so there's no reason for the film industry not to do the same, which they do with great noise and gusto. I think the reason the film industry gets up people's nostrils is the pervasive sense of privilege and the over-the-top self-importance and moralising that goes on. One would have to say the film industry as we once knew it is dying in the arse and has nothing like the kudos of past eras. Nevertheless, Oscar will undoubtedly roll on and continue to impress, delight, annoy and irritate albeit fewer and fewer people as the years tick by.
Jonathan Glazer “refuting his Jewishness” as he accepts an award for a movie about the Holocaust… the world has definitely spun off its axis.
can someone please, please tell Mark Ruffalo to stop using that accent? he used it in All The Light We Cannot See, which was otherwise a fantastic adaptation of a brilliant book. Who hears that accent and thinks "yeah, that's a net gain for this movie"????
Megyn Kelly Unloads on Jimmy Kimmel, Robert De Niro, and George Stephanopoulos for Leftist Hypocrisy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cv19QlyPoqI
Mar 11, 2024
Megyn Kelly begins the show by revealing some leftist hypocrisy, featuring Jimmy Kimmel and Hollywood's blackface past, Robert De Niro's hypocrisy and Trump hysteria, George Stephanopoulos' outrageous questioning of Rep. Nancy Mace and his past shaming of sexual assault victims, and more.
Hollywood's Obvious Hypocrisy on Who Gets Canceled and Who Gets Celebrated, with Andrew Klavan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhiADHVu7eI&t=412s
Mar 11, 2024
Megyn Kelly is joined by The Daily Wire's Andrew Klavan, author of "The House of Love and Death," to discuss Hollywood’s obvious hypocrisy on who gets canceled and who gets celebrated, the Oscars somehow mostly honoring white people, celebrity chef Padma Lakshmi critiquing Megyn but going on Jimmy Kimmel's show, all the celebs who don't seem to mind Kimmel's past blackface, and more.
I am skipping Zone of Interest after hearing Jonathan Glazer's acceptance speech. He made a movie about the Holocaust - which could not have happened had there been a modern Jewish state - and his speech offered no alternative but to leave Hamas standing to finish its clearly articulated intention of returning the Jews to their pre-Holocaust situation. Maybe he identified a little to strongly with the Nazi, Rudolf Hoss (with umlatt over "o"), the subject of his film - a kind of directorial Stockholm Syndrome.
Lol. Apparently there is a "woke mind virus" - and judging by Elon's Twiiter feed, he's got it!
I am glad the Free Press is also adding cultural coverage. I appreciate these offerings, and will check some of the movies that I have not watched yet.
I was looking for the Meeting of Grumpy Curmudgeons Who Hate Fun and I guess I found it.
I haven’t watched the Oscars in years, but I did enjoy reading this column as I am interested in the movies.
Thanks for the reviews. I have not seen them all but Oppenheimer was amazing and Barbie….not so much. I think the awards handed out were accurate.
Remember, Hollywood is here to entertain us, they are entertainers not moral leaders. Hollywood is like basketball or instagram scrolling, a way to pass some time. Their moral example is no more compelling than the LSU/SC women’s basketball brawl last night.
Just be amazed by the large format picture that takes you away from life for two plus hours.
I went to see Dune II two nights. By the end, I was deaf.
The previews were the highpoint of the night. Hollywood really is kaput. Reruns, retreads, and mash-ups. One of the upcomers is Godizila marries King Kong or something like that. Hollywood is a no-ideas zone.
Leonard Bernstein sat out WW II.
https://open.substack.com/pub/susanbordo/p/im-just-susan-and-these-are-my-picks?r=384ha&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
I for one always enjoy watching the Oscars.Some years are better than others and I believe this year was one of the better years. They honored women, but didn’t dishonor or disrespect men. The awards seemed to go to the projects and people who deserved them and not the people that the Academy felt were “due” the awards to make up for past inequities. It was entertaining but not too glitzy. It got political only a couple of times when Zelensky was shown, when one of the speeches discussed Ukraine, when one of the winners revoked their Jewishness (which I found ridiculous) and when Jimmy Kimmel read a real Trump post criticizing him and the show. I loved Jimmys line “…isn’t it past your jail time?” No one slapped anyone else across the face and I loved how former winners of each acting category were selected to speak about this years nominees instead of showing clips. I found it a decent and non offensive production.